Current-breaker for hydrocarbon-engines.



UNITED STATES Patented fury 14, ieee.

GILBERT R. ALBAUGH, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

CURRENT-BREAKER FORA HYDROCARBON-ENGINES.

SPECIFXCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 738,894, dated July 14, 1903.

Application filed February 16,1903. Serial No. 143,520. (No modelJ To all whom, it may concern-.-

Beit known that I, GILBERT R. ALBAUGH, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio,haveinvented certainnewandusefullmprovements in Current-Breakers for Hydrocarbon-Engines; and l do declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to current-breakers for hydrocarbon, gas, and other explosion engines employing an electric spark for igniting the gas or vapor.

ln the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a plan view of my new and improved currentbreaker; and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central sectional elevation thereof on line o; w, Fig. l.

As thus shown, the invention is comprised in relatively few parts of simple construction and in which A represents what may be termed the current-breaking or secondary shaft in an explosion-engine, the crank piston-shaft and the gear connections therefrom to this shaft not being shown nor regarded as necessary here to understand the invention. l

A shaft extension B is deeply and firmly socketed in one end of shaftA and is fastened by a tapered pin d, and this part constitutes a prolongation of the said shaft, which carries a contact-making finger C. The said finger is supported in a transverse bore through said extension and is adjustable lengthwise therein to afford more orless length to its operating end, a screw c in the end of said extension securing the nger in any adjusted position.

D is a librous or other insulating block which has a lengthwise slot d vertically down through the same and within which iinger C is adapted to rotate. The extension B passes centrally through this slot transversely, and the finger C is fixed on said extension to work in said slot.

A set of flat'spring contact members E are supported edgewise and parallel on one end of-non-conducting support D by a suitable block F, having recesses in its sides for said spring members and which are connected laterally by long rivets 2 or the like through block F, While a screw 3 fastens said block down on support D.

The front contacting ends of plates or members E are bent inward on comparatively short circular or cylindrical curves 4, and these curved portions normally are very near or bear against each other and are so disposed in respect to linger C that said linger will strike directly between them and make a momentarily-protracted contact with both at each revolution of shaft A. It is customary to gear these secondary or current-breaker shafts back so as to turn only one' revolution to two by the engine or crank shaft which drives them, so that there is contacting with plates E by finger C every alternate rotation of the engine-shaft and corresponding to the explosions wanted by the engine.

By the foregoing construction I get the effect, practically, of whatis known asa knife edge contact, and while it is momentary the duration thereof 'is of sufficient length to make such contact a definite one, and thereby establish a certain and full flow of the electric current through the contacting parts. The breaking of this contact or current will give that sparking effect which the work demands and which is such as never fails by this construction.

Obviously the `flow of the electric current will be by and through extension B and 1inger C and the plates E through suitable connections with the source of electrical energy .Relatively the inner free ends of contactplates E are about directly over extension B,

and finger C rotates forward said ends and strikes both at the same time, dividing them as it turns and leaving them to spring back when it clears contact.

Block D is held in fixed or suspended relation upon extension Bby means of a suitable connection-rod G, which is provided with a thumb-nut or other adjustable member located within convenient reach of the operator and whereby block D can be raised or lowered at its connected ends with said rod. Pin C and shaft A are set and timed to rotate in relation to the crank-shaft of the engine, and as the speed of the engine increases it is desirable to have an earlier ignition.

In starting the engine it is the practice to ignite the charge on the dead-center of the ICO crank-shaft. After that and underhigh speed it is desirable to ignite the charge before reaching a dead-center, and with an adjustable block having suitable connections, as

shown, l can make and break the current at any predetermined position of the piston of the engine by fixing the relative contact positions of plates E in respect to the radial movement of pin C. The piston and pin C are related and timed in their travel, and if the contact-plates are shifted the time of the ignition of the charge is thereby changed.

rlhe wire shown in Fig. 2 is a terminal connection with metallic block F, and an electric circuit is established only when pin C contacts and bears against plates E, the circuit being formed in part by the engine-frame, shaft, and pin C.

That I claim isl. The shaft and the metallic extension thereon and a iinger on said extension, in combination with an insulating-block pivotally mounted on said extension and having a vertical slot in which said finger is adapted to rotate, and a set of contact-springs having a metallic supporting-block mounted on said insulating-block, said springs having engaging relation at their free ends with said finger,

"fesselt and means to adjust and tix the insulatingblock upon said extension, substantially as described.

2. The shaft and the extension thereon and an adjustable finger in the said extension, in combination with a fiber block having a slot penetrated at right angles by said extension and affording room for said finger to rotate, and a set of spring contact members fixed on said block at one end and having their opposite ends bent inward and adapted to be engaged by said finger, substantially as described.

3. An insulating-block having a slot centrally between its ends, a set of contact-plates secured at one end to said block and having their free ends bent inward and arranged directly over said slot, in combination with a rotatable contact-hogersupported in said slot and adapted to engage between said plates, substantially as described.

Vitness my hand to the foregoing specili cation this 31st day of January, 1903.

G ILBERT R. ALBAUGH.

fitnessesz R. B. MOSER, R. ZBORNIK. 

